NFL game summary for 10/03/1976:

C. L. Whittington's 96-yard fumble return for a touchdown capped a 21-point Houston third quarter that broke open a 10-9 game. On the previous series Whittington intercepted a Bobby Scott pass at the Saints' 47, leading to Ronnie Coleman's 22-yard TD run. New Orleans came back in the fourth quarter, shutting out the Oilers and scoring 17 points initiated by a 60-yard Scott-to-Tinker Owens touchdown, but Houston hung on for the win.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

	Rush Yds/Gm	Pass Yds/Gm	Tot Yds/Gm	Turnovers
OFFENSE	159.0 (9)	141.0 (19)	300.0 (16)	6
DEFENSE	82.3 (1)	88.3 (2)	170.7 (1)	5
OFFENSE	139.3 (17)	100.7 (26)	240.0 (24)	6
DEFENSE	178.7 (22)	202.0 (26)	380.7 (24)	5

Line: Oilers by 7

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Houston Oilers (3-1-0)	7	3	21	0	31
New Orleans Saints (1-3-0)	0	6	3	17	26

( 7- 0) HOU Ronnie Coleman 5 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick) ( 7- 3) NO Rich Szaro 20 yard field goal (10- 3) HOU Skip Butler 31 yard field goal (10- 6) NO Rich Szaro 26 yard field goal (10- 9) NO Rich Szaro 43 yard field goal (17- 9) HOU Billy Johnson 9 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick) (24- 9) HOU Ronnie Coleman 22 yard rush (Skip Butler kick) (31- 9) HOU C.L. Whittington 96 yard fumble return (Skip Butler kick) (31-16) NO Tinker Owens 60 yard pass from Bobby Scott (Rich Szaro kick) (31-19) NO Rich Szaro 26 yard field goal (31-26) NO Henry Childs 4 yard pass from Bobby Douglass (Rich Szaro kick)

                     HOU             NO
First Downs:         14              22
Rushes-yards:        25-87           32-105
Yards/rush:          3.5             3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     18-29-194-1     22-44-291-1
Sacked-yards:        4-26            4-21
Net pass yards:      168             270
Net yards/pass:      5.1             5.6
Total net yards:     255             375
Total plays:         58 (43% run)    80 (40% run)  
Yards/play:          4.4             4.7
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             3-2
Turnovers:           1               3
Penalties-yards:     9-67            8-65

Attendance: 51,973

Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 16 of 27 for 183 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); John Hadl, 2 of 2 for 11 yards NO: Bobby Scott, 17 of 34 for 228 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Bobby Douglass, 5 of 10 for 63 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 13 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Fred Willis, 9 for 32 yards; John Hadl, 2 for -3 yards; Joe Dawkins, 1 for -3 yards NO: Mike Strachan, 9 for 31 yards; Tony Galbreath, 9 for 23 yards; Chuck Muncie, 6 for 18 yards; Bobby Scott, 4 for 0 yards; Bobby Douglass, 2 for 30 yards; Larry Burton, 1 for 3 yards; Alvin Maxson, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Ken Burrough, 5 for 99 yards; Fred Willis, 4 for 42 yards; Billy Johnson, 4 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Ronnie Coleman, 4 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Mack Alston, 1 for 6 yards NO: Tony Galbreath, 7 for 67 yards; Don Herrmann, 5 for 78 yards; Tinker Owens, 3 for 91 yards and 1 TD; Jim Thaxton, 2 for 25 yards; Paul Seal, 2 for 20 yards; Chuck Muncie, 1 for 6 yards; Henry Childs, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Mike Strachan, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 3 for 60 yards; Altie Taylor, 1 for 32 yards; Don Hardeman, 1 for 25 yards NO: Pete Athas, 2 for 68 yards; Chuck Muncie, 2 for 53 yards; Jim Thaxton, 1 for 41 yards; Tony Galbreath, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 3 for 65 yards NO: Pete Athas, 6 for 161 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: C.L. Whittington, 1 for 10 yards NO: Tom Myers, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 10 for 402 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 8 for 306 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Skip Butler, 1/1 NO: Rich Szaro, 4/4